FOUR DAYS LATER
After that little encounter with Smolder's newfound depression, Spike and his parents had made a vow to check on the harem at least twice a day from now on. Today when Spike woke up, however, he felt like he was forgetting something. No matter how many times he brushed it off, it always came back to latch onto him. His parents and he were just flying over the castle when they noticed The Princesses also nearing the castle in an enchanted chariot. All three watched as they landed in front of the large building where Twilight and her friends resided. After ordering the Pegasai who pulled the cart to wait for them, they both slowly walked to the entrance of the Friendship Castle, looked at each other, took a deep breath, and knocked on the door.
"I'm coming," a voice called from the other side.
The door opened to reveal Twilight.
Hey, Celestia and Luna. What can I do for you?" Twilight asked. She did still seem a little sad.
"Hello, Twilight. May we come inside, please? We need to talk with you and your friends," Luna responded calmly.
"Certainly," Twilight smiled. "Can we discuss it in the map room?"
"Of course," Celestia replied.
With that said, Twilight rushed off to gather her friends and the Princesses headed to the map room and patiently waited inside. Spike and his parents also followed them in there. It didn't take the Princesses or the spirits long to notice a stone chair smaller than the other six. On head rest was a picture of Spike, he was looking at the camera with a big smile. On the seat of the chair were several bouquets of flowers with a golden medal on the top, it was the Royal Advisor medal Twilight had given Spike no more than ten days ago. On the armrests sat two lit candles, one purple and one green, for each side. Below the picture sat a shiny golden plaque which was reflecting some of the yellow glow of the small candle flames. There were cursive letters carved into the plaque, they were easy to read with the help of the light of the candle flames.
Spike The Dragon
Beloved Boyfriend, Friend, Brother, Son, Uncle, Nephew, Cousin, and Hero
The Princesses teared up a bit at the bittersweet sight of all the things that decorated Spike's chair. Spike and his parents did also. Words couldn't describe how proud Tyson and Kimba were of their son. In just over 16 years, he had already touched so many lives enough to make them return the favor with a memorial like this. The moment was interrupted when they all heard a door opening as Twilight walked into the room accompanied by the other members of Spike's harem and Garble. They took notice of the Princesses and, unknown to them, the spirits of Spike and his parents staring at the Spike's adorned map room chair, and they all began looking longingly at it, feeling all the good memories of their fallen friend come rushing back and hitting them right in their emotions. Not a word was said as the 12 ponies, two Dragons, one Griffon, and three angels all continued to stare at the permanently vacant stone chair. If a pin was dropped, everyone would've heard it. After 45 seconds of pure, dead silence, Princess Celestia finally cleared her throat and got the other eight Ponies' attention.
"Ahem, now that we got that out of the way, there's something that I need to talk to you all about," Celestia spoke up.
"Sure thing, Celestia. What's up?" came the heavy southern accent of Applejack.
"It's about Discord," Luna started.
Spike suddenly knew why he had that feeling when he woke up as well as al morning. He was so caught up with making sure his harem was coping with his loss so much that he had forgotten all about how Discord was doing. He could only hope that the girls had all taken his words of forgiveness to heart and not be angry with him. His hopes of that were dashed, however, when he saw all the girls, excluding Fluttershy, and Garble winced slightly as they heard Discord's name. He knew that they were still angry with Discord for his death even though he had asked for them to forgive him. He knew that they couldn't stay angry forever, but, in his eyes, the sooner they forgave him the sooner they'd be able to move. Fortunately for him, he wasn't the only one who thought that.
"What about him?" Rainbow Dash asked with a hint of bitterness in her tone.
"Well, you see, he's taken Spike's death just as hard as you girls," Celestia said.
"Hmph, I should hope so," Rarity huffed. "He's the reason why our Spikey-Wikey is gone in the first place."
"Not to mention my sister has to go back on her anti-depressants because of him," Garble added with a growl.
"I don't even know why were even bringing him up in the first place," Applejack added.
"Because he was trying to help you. We miss Spike just as much as you all do, but clinging to the past won't do any of us any good," Celestia said curtly.
"Oh, and how did he "help" us as you put it?" Rainbow Dash asked, the bitterness in her tone becoming a bit more evident.
"Remember how he realized his mistakes and how he promised to make it up to everyone?" Luna asked.
Rainbow fell silent, she remembered how Discord swore to them that he'd make it up to them, how the cyan Pegasus herself told him that, "it would have to be a pretty epic make-up". The ancient creature, however, was true to his word. He grabbed a crystal rock while trying to work out a bargain with the three fiends, eventually getting into a verbal fight with, and eventually angering Tirek to the point where the rejuvenated Centaur tried to blast Discord. At the last second, Discord stuck out the crystal rock, Tirek's blast hit the rock, it ricocheted off of the object's reflective surface, and it ultimately obliterated the shard of Chrysalis' old throne that was subduing Starlight in her cage, causing her to break free and the pink unicorn was able to break out every other creature. When Rainbow Dash, as well as her friends, thought about that way, they realized that while Discord may have gotten them into his mess, he managed to get them all out of it.
"Do you also remember what Spike said in his final moments about you all being hard on Discord?" Celestia added.
The other Element Bearers joined Rainbow deep in their thoughts.
"Listen, please don't be angry at Discord for this. He never intended this to happen.”
It was painful to remember his voice and seeing him dying on the ground right in front of them, but at the same time they realized that unlike them, Spike held no ill will toward Discord and knew that the ancient creature had good intentions. He had used one of his last breaths to beg them to drop any feelings of hate or anger harbored toward the Draconequus.
While the Element Bearers were deep in thought, Gabby spoke up. Because she wasn't there, the Grey Griffon, as well as the other members of Spike's harem and Garble, were very confused.
"What are you talking about?" she asked.
"In his last moments of life, Spike pled with the Element Bearers to forgive Discord rather than be angry with him," Luna explained.
"Huh," said Applejack. "When you put it like that, I guess he did really try to help us, he just didn't plan for the villains to betray him so suddenly."
"Precisely," Celestia said. "Discord wasn't trying to bring you down. He just didn't think it through."
"He's in our castle right now in a guest bedroom. Celestia overheard him one time saying to himself that it was best if he never talked to any of you again," Luna added.
"If the truth be told, I've already forgiven him for what he's done," Smolder said.
Garble was completely shocked.
"What? Why?" he asked.
"Because, Gar-Gar," Smolder explained. "I need to move on from this event just as much as everyone else. If I am unable to forgive Discord, I feel like I cannot move on. No matter how much I hope or try, I know nothing can bring our Spike back. I know he does hold some blame for what happened, but you have to understand that we cannot move on if we dwell on what Discord did instead of forgiving him, we cannot move on and, in the process, we'll all become more and more bitter to not just Discord, but everyone we know."
"Wow," Garble was astonished. "When did you become like this?"
"I learned from the best," Smolder chuckled, nudging Fluttershy.
"Thank you, Smolder. Getting back to the serious matter, though, you are right. I think it's time we paid him a visit," Fluttershy spoke up, her meek tone replaced with a determined one. "He needs to know that his heart was in the right place and that Spike, like the kind, caring soul he was, held no hate towards him."
Spike felt tears of pride well up in his eyes. He knew if anyone could help lead the way it would be those two.
"Thank you, Smolder. Thank you, Fluttershy," he whispered. "You two really are an inspiration for all of Equestria."
Everypony agreed. With that being said, the nine ponies raced outside to Celestia and Luna's chariot, climbed inside, and they rode back as fast as they could to Celestia's and Luna's castle, determined to go find Discord and sort things out with him.
***
When they really stopped to think about it, Spike's parents had never bothered asking their son what had happened to cause his death. So, Spike took the liberty of explaining the whole battle from the beginning of the fight to when they were captured to when he saved his friends with a lightning-quick thought at the exchange of his own life. His parents, like the ponies, were very angry with him at first, but upon hearing Spike's explanation of why Discord did what he did, as well as hearing their son asking them to forgive him rather than be angry at him, Tyson and Kimba chose to follow Spike's advice and forgive Discord as well, realizing their son's reasoning was right, as well as being impressed with his mature mindset at such a young age. He also added that if it weren't for him, they wouldn't be reunited as a family right now.
Soon, Spike's harem, Garble, the Princesses, and the spirits of Spike and his parents arrived at the guest bedroom in Celestia and Luna's castle and they knocked on the door. It slowly creaked open to reveal a saddened Discord. Before Twilight could say another word, Discord started things off.
"I know why you're here, Twilight," Discord sighed sadly. "I know what I did, but no matter how much I hope, no matter how much I try, I cannot see you or your friends ever forgiving me. So, please, just turn me into stone again and get it over with. I deserve it."
Twilight was taken aback. She already knew Discord was upset, but she hadn't expected him to be tore up to the point where he wanted to be petrified in stone for a third time. Celestia, Luna, the other members of Spike's harem also seemed a little shocked by Discord's behavior. The most shocked out of the whole group were Spike and his parents. They knew Spike's death affected him emotionally, but, like Smolder, they seemed to have underestimated the amount of pain Discord was feeling.
"Discord," Luna spoke. "We're not here to turn you back into stone, we just want to talk."
"Oh, do you have another punishment in mind?" Discord asked, his tone seemed the same.
"No, Discord," Celestia said calmly. "We're not here to punish you at all."
Discord was shocked, "I-Is this a joke? Please don't toy with me like this. I know what I did was wrong, but don't leave me in the dark about my punishment."
"No, we're not joking. Listen, Discord, we may be angry for what you did, but we know deep down that you never meant for this to happen. You may have drug us into your mess, but you also managed to get yourself out of it," Twilight said kindly
Discord remembered what Twilight was referring to. How he'd freed everycreature in Equestria by goading Tirek into blasting away the chard of Chrysalis' throne restraining Starlight, causing a domino effect for everyone else.
"While I see your point there, it still doesn't take away from the fact that one of our close friends lost his life due to me," Discord said, beginning to tear up. "I've been having the same nightmare about Spike every night."
"What sort of nightmares?" Rainbow Dash asked.
Discord gulped and then went into detail about his recurring nightmare about Spike. How he was so badly injured, how he had that blank expression, and how he'd just let out that awful scream before collapsing on the ground in a bloody mess. He also recalled how he woke up in a cold sweat every night at least twice. When Luna asked why she couldn't see his nightmares, he told her he had put a spell up to block her from seeing it because he thought this was part of was what he deserved. When he was finished, he looked like he was about to cry. Spike and his parents probably felt the sorriest for the poor, old creature.
"The worst part about this whole thing is Spike died hating me for what I did. He's not wrong either, I feel fully responsible for what happened to him. If I hadn't put them together, he'd still be alive," Discord choked out. Unable to bear the pain any longer he broke down and began to cry.
The spirit of Spike turned to Fluttershy.
"Come on, Fluttershy," Spike whispered. "It's now or never, sweetie."
As if she was able to know the spirit of Spike was speaking directly to her, Fluttershy trotted over and hugged her Draconequus before looking him right in the eye.
The cream-colored Pegasus looked very serious, "Listen, Discord. I am your best friend and as your best friend, I know you very well. I know that you're sometimes a troublemaker and mischievous person, but you have a caring heart deep inside you. You tried to do something to help us, and it unexpectedly went south. You couldn't have thought that Chrysalis, Tirek, and Cozy Glow would've stabbed you in the back like that. I also want to make something very clear right now, Spike was not angry at you or hated you for what happened to him. In fact, right before he died, he used one of his last breaths to tell us not to be hard on you. He said that you never intended this to happen. If he were alive now, he'd want us to go over there and forgive you, it's just who he was. If we cannot forgive you, we are going against his final wishes and thus dishonoring his memory," Fluttershy said, her turquoise eyes vibrating with the same seriousness, but at the same time hope, at the day of the funeral when she gave a similar speech to an emotionally broken Twilight.
Smolder wanted to add something.
"Also, you should realize that you need help moving on just as much as we do. If we do not forgive you, not only do we lose the ability to travel down the road to recovery successfully, but we'll also become bitter and angry to not just you, but everyone we know as well."
After listening to his best friend's speech, Discord felt like crying again, but this time it was out of happiness.
"Thank you. Thank you all so much," he whispered as he wrapped Fluttershy in a hug as he wept.
Slowly, the other ponies, Dragons, Griffon, even Celestia and Luna, joined in the hug and Discord couldn't be happier.
For a full minute they all just hugged each other and didn't say a word. Afterword they broke away before Fluttershy spoke up again.
"You've been couped up for too long in this small room and you need help dealing with your night terrors. It's time we headed back to the Castle of Friendship for some tea, and we can talk about the things that we loved most about Spike. How does that sound?" Fluttershy asked sweetly.
"That would be lovely. Thank you, Fluttershy," Discord smiled back.
Fluttershy turned toward the other 14 creatures. They felt so touched at Fluttershy's actions at reconnecting with Discord.
"Well done, Fluttershy," Princess Celestia said. "Today, you and your friends have proven that you all have a little bit of Spike's spirit in you."
"I couldn't agree more," Luna added. "I have no doubt that Prince Spike has never been prouder as he's looking down at us from the heavens."
"That's a drastic understatement," Spike said.
With that Discord and Fluttershy took the lead as they walked back to the chariot to be transported back home, all feeling their hope they had gotten from each other right after the funeral strengthening twice as much or, in Smolder's case after a little guidance from Fluttershy, herself, two days after the funeral.
Spike and his parents probably felt the most touched out of everyone there. Tears of pride welled up in Spike's eyes. He had gone from worried to relieved.
"Good job," he whispered. "I'm proud of you all. Thank you for fulfilling my wish."
His parents and he joined the others in watching Fluttershy and Discord slowly dissapear from sight, their good feelings never fading.
THE NEXT DAY
The spirits of Spike and his parents flew over the city of Canterlot. They had little time to admire the city's beauty because today was the day when Twilight would visit the vile monsters who ended the life of Spike to lie down the case against them. They soon arrived at the entrance of the Canterlot dungeons just as his harem, the Young six, the other three Princesses, Shining Armor, Garble, Ember, Thorax, and Discord also arrived. Even though Twilight was technically in the lead, the angel spirits of Spike and his parents were actually leading the way to Cozy, Tirek, and Chrysalis' cell. Spike and his parents soon made it there and Spike glared down the three fiends.
His glare softened, however, when he came upon Cozy Glow. He looked her right in the eye and noticed something wasn't right with her. Tirek, although slightly remorseful, still seemed to have no soul. Cozy, on the other hand, seemed like she had a soul, but it seemed like it was screaming out for some kind of help, that it said it didn't have any control over what the body it inhabited did. Chrysalis, however, seemed excited. One look into her eyes told Spike that she was irredeemable without a second thought. Her eyes were empty and soulless, void of any life. Like a desert that was frozen over. He felt every inch his spiritual body run cold. Even though she didn't know Spike was there, Chrysalis' icy, heartless look was enough to make both Spike and his parents feel uncomfortable at best. Her facial expression, however, was what put Spike the most at unease. She seemed excited about this. Like she wanted this to happen. The three angels gazed at her as if she was a lone figure on a deserted island. Was this creature even real? Was she really this heartless and demonic? Spike also couldn't help but have a bad feeling that something really bad was going to happen today. That thought was interrupted when he heard the sound of Twilight's voice cut through the tension that had been brought by the silence like a knife.
"Hello, Chrysalis, Tirek, Cozy Glow," Twilight said bitterly.
"Hello, Twilight," Chrysalis said, her voice oozing with venom. "Say, where's that little pet dragon of yours? Or was he your boyfriend? I honestly can't remember. Either way, I would've assumed he'd want to come along too."
She took a look around at the group of creatures.
“How lovely,” she laughed. “Everyone’s present. Here to throw us a parade?”
Everyone except Cozy Glow and Tirek winced slightly at Chrysalis' words, feeling disgusted with her unremorseful attitude. Spike and his parents just felt another wave of shock rush over them. They'd never really known Chrysalis, but, already, she was proving her worth as one of Equestria's worst enemies and nightmares.
"I think you know what happened to him," Celestia said simply. “No, we’re not here to throw you a parage either.”
Chrysalis snickered before Twilight spoke up.
"Listen up, you've all been charged with 1st degree murder. Cozy, since you're a child we cannot charge you with treason. How do you plead?" Twilight said curtly.
"Guilty. No contest," Cozy and Tirek said in unison. The Centaur and filly Pegasus knew it was no point in saying innocent. The chips were stacked too tall against them, and a trial would only prolong the ordeal for them.
"Chrysalis, we didn't hear your plea," Luna said.
Everyone turned to face her.
"Guilty. No contest," she answered, a smile etched at the corners of her mouth.
Everyone felt even more disgusted with Chrysalis' attitude. Even though Tirek and Cozy were just as guilty as her, they, at least, looked a tiny bit remorseful at first glance, although they didn't want them to see it. Chrysalis didn't even look like Spike's death affected her in any way. In fact, she seemed happy about it. It was as if she had wanted this to happen all along. Chrysalis looked the perturbed ponies, dragons, griffons, changeling, yak, hippogriff, and Draconequus standing before her. She decided to play dumb.
Spike's parents were starting to go from shocked to angry. The reality of what was going on almost fully sunk in by now and the fact that she was blatantly trying to start something to try and derail this event rather than keeping her mouth shut and getting her punishment over with made them even more angry. Spike just felt sad. He had held out some kind of little hope that Chrysalis and Tirek had some kind of good inside them, but Tirek had silently proved that he didn't, and Chrysalis was proving it right now,
"What?" she asked, pretending as if she didn't know why they were all mad at her to begin with. "Why are you all angry?"
"Oh, I don't know," came a voice. "Maybe it's because you're still showing no remorse after killing someone, a kid for that matter."
"Who said that?" Chrysalis growled. "Show yourself, now!"
Chrysalis looked around to see where that voice came from. She already knew it was Starlight but wanted to play dumb more to really let everyone know just what she thought about them. Eventually, Starlight came up to her.
"That was me," Starlight said through clenched teeth.
Spike felt his gut drop when Starlight revealed herself. The feeling that something really bad was going to happen increased ten-fold. He knew the rivalry between these two was about to boil over now and there was nothing he could do prevent Starlight from being pushed over the edge.
Chrysalis' demeanor changed from angry to excited looking at the angry visage of her archenemy. Although she hated Starlight most of all, she now knew exactly what to say to taunt the already angry Pink Unicorn. An evil grin spread across her face.
"Oh my," Chrysalis mused. "Whatever happened to the Starlight I knew who wanted to reform me? Certainly, out of everyone here, I would've expected you to be the one who extended me a hoof of friendship hoping to lead me down a better path."
"That was before you became a deranged psychopath hellbent on trying to kill us all," Starlight snapped back. "Had I known that you were going to go and pull a stunt like this, I would've just put you out of your misery right then and there."
"But you didn't," Chrysalis said in a sing-song voice before laughing again. "And, boy, did you pay a price for it. Such a shame too. Although he was a complete nuisance, I must admit that stupid boyfriend of yours, was such a promising soul, so full of life, so ready to take on all the challenges the world had to offer to him. He won't be missed. Ever."
Spike wanted to feel angry, but he was too busy silently praying that Starlight didn't do something she'd regret. One look at Starlight as she glared hatefully at her arch-rival only signaled to Spike that Chrysalis' taunts were really starting to make her angry. She wasn't the only one either. Spike also noticed that Thorax, Ember, and Smolder were also looking like they wanted to punch Chrysalis in the face right now. He noticed Smolder was probably the angriest and was already marching up to confront Chrysalis. Starlight saw Smolder coming up and backed up so the orange dragon could say her piece.
"He was just a kid, you fiend!" she shouted.
Chrysalis just shrugged.
"Ehh, kids grow up to be problems in this world. You, my friend, are no exception. The way I see it, I've made not just this hellhole you call your home, but the entire world, a better place by ridding it of one more flaw."
Spike felt anger starting to boil inside him. Even if he felt bad that Chrysalis couldn't be reformed, she had no right to talk to his lovers, friends, and home like that. He barely had time to grasp those new feelings before Smolder spoke up again.
"He was worth an infinite number of you!" Smolder countered. "He was more sweet, more pure, more loving, and, best of all, he was loved by many. Unlike you.
"Insults now?" laughed Chrysalis. "Hmph, go right ahead and say them. They don't hurt me, and they won't unkill that hideous salamander."
Smolder stomped her foot angrily, "I'm warning you, Chrysalis. If you don't shut your bucking mouth right now, I swear to the Gods and Goddesses above I'll knock you out. Do you hear me?"
"Aww," cooed Chrysalis. "Look at you trying to be scary. How adorable."
Spike went from angry to furious.
"How dare you talk to my Smolder like that?" he growled.
He wanted to just go into that cell and grab Chrysalis by the neck and demand she apologize to his girlfriend, as well as his other lovers for the pain and suffering she put them through in the span of 11 days. Unfortunately, the fact that he was a spirit and couldn't cause anyone pain reared its ugly head again. He could only watch as Smolder's opened her mouth to reprimand Chrysalis once more, only for Starlight to interject instead.
"Well, just remember that we're not the ones in the cell," Starlight snarled. "Before I leave here though, however, I just want ask one thing. Was it worth it? Was not being my friend just to try to take Equestria but failing miserably worth all this?"
This was the shot Chrysalis was waiting for. It was time for her to show her foes just what she really thought about not just the battle, but all of them entirely.
"On the contrary, it is actually us who have defeated you," Chrysalis smirked. "See, you may have stopped us, but at what cost? We may be defeated, but the fact that we took out one of you is more than reward enough for me alone, but now it's even better because 12 of you misguided fools actually thought of him as more than a friend. I was already pleased thinking about how much torture you twits were going through, but hearing that fact made that feeling of happiness indescribable. The icing on the cake of this whole ordeal is, if I remember correctly, he was an orphan. I'm willing to bet money that he's probably already reunited with his parents in the bowels of Tartarus. Now, they can all enjoy rotting down there together. So, in a way, I did him a favor. Now, rather than having no other choice but to consider any of you idiots his family, he gets to be with his true family. It's honestly funny how things work out sometimes. Wouldn't you agree? Oh, and here’s the cherry on top of it all. While I was biding my time in here, I began to think the magic of Friendship solved everything and kept everyone okay."
She paused impressively.
”Guess. Not.”
That did it, Spike watched as Starlight became probably the angriest he'd ever seen her. The same could be said for Thorax and Ember. Smolder, on the other hand, looked apoplectic and Spike couldn't blame her. He could only watch as her fists clenched tighter than ever before. Her cheeks turned a darker shade of orange, she bared and gnashed her teeth, letting a somewhat loud growl escape from her throat, and a thin trail of black smoke slowly seeped out of her nostrils. The feeling of something bad happening finally revealed itself to Spike. Even if he hated Chrysalis, the angel Dragon nor his parents wanted to see Spike's lovers and friends hurt or possibly kill her in a fit of blind rage.
"You really think this is FUNNY?!!" Ember shouted.
"Funny, no. Hilarious, yes," Chrysalis corrected.
Chrysalis gave herself a mental pat on the back looking at the seething faces of Starlight Glimmer and Smolder, as well as many other creatures in the hallway. A handful of them just stared at her with pure shock. They had, like Starlight, never come across someone as shameless as her and didn't know what to think or say. It had worked, she had said what she wanted to say just to be a brazen, unapologetic jackass. She turned back to face Starlight, who only looked even angrier.
"Something the matter, Starlight?" Chrysalis said, not bothering to hold back another snicker. "You look a little red. Do you have a fever?"
Spike watched as Chrysalis paused for a brief second and he heard another irate growl from Starlight break through the silence.
"Or was it something I did?"
Starlight turned to the Royal Sisters.
"Celestia, Luna," Starlight said through clenched teeth. "Could you kindly hand me the keys to this demon's cell and grant me five minutes alone with her?"
"Is this a private event, Starlight?" Smolder said with a louder growl and the smoke from her nostrils was getting thicker. "Or can anyone join?"
"You're more than welcome to join in if you want," Starlight growled.
"Thank you, Starlight," Smolder said in a low, scary tone.
Garble stepped up to hopefully try and calm his boiling sister down. He put a hand on her shoulder before speaking.
"Smolder, come on," he said. "She's not worth-"
Smolder abruptly swatted his hand away, never taking her eyes of Chrysalis, the object of her fury.
"No," she snarled. "This sick, twisted psycho tried to destroy the whole world and our Spike had to pay with his life to save us. Now, she not only has no remorse for what she did, but she has the audacity to make fun of him while he's dead IN FRONT OF US!!!"
Smolder's tone changing from just above a whisper to screaming as the last four words of her sentence left her mouth made everyone flinch. A few creatures were scared seeing not just Smolder, but Thorax and Ember as well, pushed to the point where they all wanted to fight Chrysalis. Spike felt tears welling up in his eyes looking at the four incensed creatures. Tyson and Kimba also felt scared looking at them. They had never come across anyone as angry as they were. They watched in fear as Smolder continued on.
"Well, I'm sick of it. It's clear as day that any time in jail isn't going to do her or us any good. It's high time Starlight and I quit playing nice and give this lunatic the punishment she's had coming for a long time," Smolder finished. Her tone had turned from shouting to low and scary. "You want something to smile and laugh about, Chrysalis? I'll give you something to smile and laugh about."
"I want in on this too," growled Ember as she cracked her knuckles.
"Same here," snarled Thorax.
By now, everyone, except the four seething creatures and Fluttershy, were frozen in fear. Smolder's close friends all stared at her in shock. They had never seen Smolder, or anyone on that matter, this angry before. Neither had Garble. Gallus' knees quivered. He did enjoy pulling a prank or two on Smolder from time to time, as well as Smolder chasing him down and warning him of dire consequences if he ever tried it again, but now, it seemed Smolder was at least twenty times angrier than all the times she was with him from all the pranks he pulled on her combined.
Pharynx looked at his brother with the same shock. He had never seen his brother even slightly angry in his whole life. Ocellus wanted to say something, anything, to calm down the king of her species, but she couldn't think of anything and seeing Thorax so livid scared her half to death. Tears of fear brimmed in her eyes as she looked back and forth between Thorax's furious expression and Chrysalis' smug one. She didn't want to see someone who she basically considered her father to hurt someone else out of pure rage, even if they deserved it.
Spike and his parents were also shocked into silence. Spike was hovering, but his parents were standing. Spike looked back at his parents and noticed both of their knees were quivering in fear. They didn't know what to do or say here because they had never been in a situation like this before in their lives.
Chrysalis, on the other hand, wasn't fazed at all. All three angels felt themselves becoming more fearful as they watched as the bitter and shameless creature took one look at each of her four would-be attackers before breaking down in a fit of hysterical laughter. This lasted about 30 seconds before she got back up and looked at them again. Spike also stepped in front of them to look at what Chrysalis' laughing had done to them and noticed that all four were now trembling with pure rage. The little angel could've sworn the insides of Ember and Smolder's nostrils were now glowing orange. He looked at Thorax and noticed his horn and antlers were now glowing a slight shade of Turquoise. No Doubt in his mind the Changeling King's rage had likely manifested itself into magic. Starlight's horn was also the same way except it was glowing much, much brighter. One look at Chrysalis also told Spike that she felt very pleased with herself.
"Oh, what? What are you going to do?" she asked trying not to break down in another fit of laughter. "Friendship me to death? Kill me with kindness? Now, that's something I'd like to see you try."
It was at this moment that Spike and his parents knew that Chrysalis couldn't be saved from her own big mouth. Even so, Spike's fear didn't go way. His parents, however, seemed to have lost all fear knowing there was nothing to stop Chrysalis from getting a possibly fatal beating. One look at Smolder, Starlight, Thorax, and Ember signaled to Spike and his parents that maybe they did need this. Maybe they just needed to take out all that pent up rage inside them with a good fight and then, they'd be back to normal. One look at everyone else in the dungeon hallway told Spike and his parents that they were thinking the exact same thing. That was until Fluttershy stepped in-between them. She whispered something in Starlight's ear for a few seconds, which seemed to calm the Pink Unicorn down, before doing the same with Smolder, Ember, and Thorax. Spike felt a huge rush of relief wash over him seeing Fluttershy once again being the unofficial peacekeeper and uniter of the harem.
"Good work, Fluttershy," Spike whispered, his tears of fear turning into those of pride. "I'm very proud of you."
Spike watched as the four, formerly irate, creatures stepped away from Chrysalis' cell. Smolder, however, wasn't finished with her boyfriend's killer just quite yet.
"I want to make something very, very clear right now," Smolder said with another loud growl. "You're bucking lucky that Fluttershy was here to calm us down or Starlight, Thorax, Ember, and I would've personally made sure that you would not live to see your sentencing. Part of me still does want nothing more than to tear you limb from limb to show you personally what kind of pain we go through every day, as well as the kind of pain you put our Spike through in his last moments of life. Just remember that."
Once Smolder was finished, the cream-colored Pegasus turned to face the arrogant, barefaced, disgraced Changeling Queen. Her turquoise eyes vibrating with determination for the third time in less than two weeks. Chrysalis just looked right back at her with the same smirk, but she wasn't aware of what this usually shy pony had to say to her. Spike and his parents also watched with interest.
"What's she going to say?" Tyson asked.
"Just sit back, watch, and prepare to be amazed," Spike smirked.
"You may have taken Spike's body from us, but there are two things you will never, ever take away from us. The first is his spirit. We all hold a little bit of him inside us. His kindness, generosity, laughter, loyalty, and honesty all live on inside our hearts. The other thing is all the happy memories that we have made with him. We will always have things that will remind us of all the fun things we all did together with him. His love for us, as well as the love we felt for him, is something you would never be able to suck out of us because even one percent of it would overload the system that resides inside your soulless body. My pride as being one of his twelve marefriends increases ten-fold with each passing day. We've seen thousands of creatures of all kinds support us and praise Spike. Those who barely even knew him were writing poems and sending letters praising him on a daily basis. I've never seen a single person in the time I've known you ever come out in support of you. I think I'll leave you to think about that as you sit here until your sentencing," Fluttershy said, her tone had shifted to Bold Fluttershy.
Chrysalis' smirk slowly faded. By the time Fluttershy finished her speech, Chrysalis looked at her in shock. At the back of the room, Cozy and Tirek's shock changed to dumbfounded amazement, both their mouths hung slightly open. They had never expected such strong words to come from such a meek, quiet Pegasus. Spike's parents were also amazed. Spike, on the other hand, just grinned. The second he saw Fluttershy walk up to confront Chrysalis, the angel Dragon knew that she had the perfect thing in mind to put the evil creature in her place. Everyone else seemed a little shocked by Fluttershy's change in demeanor as well. Fluttershy looked back at Twilight who began to step forward to say when the villains would be sentenced.
"Since you have all plead guilty no contest, you will not have a trial. Your sentencing date will be scheduled in two weeks' time," Twilight said, looking all three of them right in the eye. "This meeting is concluded. I will see you then."
With nothing left to say, Twilight looked back at her friends and other Princesses. They all looked back at her, nodded to each other, and trotted out of the dungeon hallway, leaving one evildoer shocked into silence and the other two evildoers in dumbfounded amazement. The three spirits, however, stayed behind. Tyson turned to Spike.
"Wow," he said, stammering for a second. "I did not her to do that."
"Same," Kimba added. "When you said Fluttershy was truly an inspiration for all of Equestria, you weren't kidding."
"That's just Fluttershy for you," Spike smiled. "Sweeter than sugar to the core and always willing to put someone who's acting out of line in their place. I was really, really lucky to have her as one of my girlfriends."
TWO WEEKS LATER
The spirits of Spike and his parents flew over the clouds to the Celestia and Luna's castle. Today was the day that Chrysalis and Tirek would be sentenced for their crimes. Cozy would've been sentenced as well, but there was something that was found out about her that made everyone, especially Spike, reconsider their decision on punishing her. As they were spirits, the three dragons simply went right through the roof of the throne room. There sat, on two chairs on an elevated platform, the Royal Sisters themselves, calmly waiting
They only had to wait no more than 15 seconds for a side door to open to reveal Twilight followed by her friends, her friends' little sisters, the God of Chaos, the Dragon Lord, the Changeling King, the Young Six, four teenage dragons, and a grey Griffon.
"Hello, Celestia," Twilight said.
"Greetings, Twilight," Celestia responded, giving her former pupil a hug. Spike and his parents smiled at the scene before them.
The warm moment was broken up by a knock at the front door.
"Enter," Celestia called out.
The door opened to reveal ten royal guards forming two lines. Between those two lines stood two creatures shackled and, in Tirek's case, handcuffed. They didn't say a word as the stoic guards led them to the Royal Sisters and the 24 new arrivals. Celestia and Luna glared at the frail Centaur and former Changeling Queen both as they slowly walked up to face them. Spike instantly frowned looking at them, worried that Chrysalis was going to do something that would provoke everyone again. To his surprise, however, they both were looking at the ground and didn't look like they'd be saying anything to taunt the others.
"As you both know, today is the day that you will be sentenced for your crimes. Do you have anything you want to say before we sentence you?" Celestia asked, not letting up on her glare. Neither did Luna.
Neither Tirek nor Chrysalis said a word.
"Very well then, we shall proceed," Luna said. She took out a scroll and read what the decided sentence was for both creatures. "For the punishment 1st degree murder, the decided sentence is life in Tartarus for both of you. Do you have anything you'd like to say for yourselves?"
Chrysalis and Tirek once again remained silent.
"Alright then, this sentencing is concluded. Take them to prison please," Celestia ordered the guards.
"As you wish, Princess Celestia," the guards all said in unison before beckoning to the two prisoners to come with them. They all trotted slowly to the front door, matching the pace of the two convicts. It seemed like forever, but eventually the guards were out the front door. Once the guards were out the door, Spike's harem, Celestia, Luna, the Young Six, Thorax, Ember, Discord, and even Garble and his buddies embraced each other in a giant group hug. For a solid minute, all the 26 creatures did was hug each other and not say a word. The throne room was peacefully quiet as they did so. Finally, they broke away. Spike and his parents felt their smiles return to them as they watched the scene before them. All three flew down to join them in the hug. Even if they couldn't see him, Spike was just happy, at this point, to be with them. The trio of angels joined the group hug and watched as Twilight took out a picture and everyone looked at it with a sad smile. The photo was of Spike in the center of it being surrounded and hugged by his whole harem. They were sitting on the couch in the friendship castle, and they all were looking at the camera with big smiles. The photo was taken only two days before that fateful battle. Spike smiled warmly at the picture, then to his whole harem. He felt at peace knowing that they were safe and nothing would ever hurt them again.
"Justice was served for Spike today. Thank you, Luna and Celestia," Twilight said wiping away a tear.
"It was nothing," Celestia said, hugging Twilight again.
"Although I can't help but feel a little sorry for Cozy Glow," Thorax said. "Even if she was despicable, it really is sad that she had to go through all that pain."
"Agreed," Twilight said. "It was unfortunate what she had to go through, and I wish we would've helped her instead of sending her to Tartarus."
Spike winced hearing that, he was glad that they were able to find what they did about Cozy when they did. Otherwise, they would've treated her like the other two evildoers. He watched as everyone else wince the same way he did. If they were all being honest with themselves, they all felt sorry for what she had to go through and what led up to her becoming evil. At the same time though, they were glad that those other two fiends were off the streets for good. Today was a good day, justice had been served for all of Equestria, more importantly Spike, and there would be no more attacks threatening all of Equestria anymore.